instant gratification

People say that our generation is iGen. Originally I thought this referred to us as the "Apple" generation but then a friend mentioned that we are the generation of instant gratification. (get it. IG iGen...Instant Gratification).

I couldn't agree more. Being a very impatient person I had always thought that I was impatient by nature. Only recently have I realised how much of the instancy has (probably) affected me. On a recent to trip to the US I realised that impatience and IG syndrome everywhere. When you wait in line for rides, there are things to entertain you, there are different kinds of fast track lines and programs, at the airport there are chargers EVERYWHERE. Nothing ever stops and everyone wants everything NOW. I also observe the workings of this culture in my brother, who is very much growing up in the iGen. I feel although the premise of instant gratification is that if I can't get it now, I don't want it at all. Just then, my brother and his friend, both iGens were trying to find a key to move into a different part of the house but upon not finding the key, opted to stay in the part they were already in.

Even moreso, instant gratification is seen as one of the "hallmarks of the good life". I see this as I watch the entire series of gossip girl (my guilty pleasure) and the way they portray the privileged youth of the Upper East Side is that they get everything they want instantly - cars, sex, luxury. Tim Keller quotes Andrew Delbanco's book Real American Dream

"installing instant gratification as the hallmark of the good life...What was lost...was any conception of a common destiny worth tears, sacrifice and maybe even death" 

This is to say that with the rise of the culture of instant gratification, the goals of society as a whole is lost. While there were previously goals such as the rise of a country or to build a community, these ideals no longer exist and we are left with only a quest for "personal success and power". Because we can get anything we want as soon as we want, there no longer remains a need for anyone to work for something greater. 

I also read an article recently that was talking about the "nine start-ups to watch for in 2015". Some of them were described as "instant gratification on steroids." Here is an excerpt:

"The rapid rise of Uber (and its reported $17 billion valuation) has created an investment rush into services that can provide everything from dog-walking (Swifto), alcohol (Drizly) to cleaners (Exec.com) in ways that are faster and easier than ordering a pizza. I even heard an entrepreneur pitch to provide, I kid you not, “on-demand hugs”. It’s instant gratification on steroids, built around the idea that customers want everything faster, better and cheaper."

The need for instant gratification stretches from faster flowers to job flexibility in the here and now.

"Millennials are less willing than baby boomers to make their work lives an exclusive priority, even when offered the prospect of substantial future compensation. They want job flexibility in the here and now, along with opportunities for training and mobility, and better and more frequent feedback and rewards."

The article goes on to talk about how PwC is adjusting to this change which then further enforces the culture. The more institutions adjust, the more the phenomenon is going. 

The internet is a classic example of our generations need for instant gratification. Immense amounts of information at our fingertips. We use instant messaging instead of email because we want INSTANT replies (as the name suggests). We flick between tabs when we're bored looking for something to entertain us (example: I just flicked to read through someone's twitter). 

This just all shows how counter-cultural Christianity is because it is all about DELAYED gratification. We suffer in this life and sacrifice things for Christ in the certainty that there is a perfect life in the future. 

My prayer for my generation of Christians is to stay true to God's call that we be patient despite the world around us adjusting to our ever increasing patience.

Very interested in this topic and intend to read more :))



Sources:
Every Good Endeavour, Tim Keller
http://www.afr.com/p/boss/nine_start_ups_to_rock_your_world_evV0BCaRmemfmginzUr61L
http://www.afr.com/p/boss/how_to_engage_with_millennials_JfqZBkE1jSQtuXQo1ii9EJ